What we do

We work to improve the safety and wellbeing of children across England. The Panel looks closely at the most serious incidents of child abuse and neglect, especially where a child has died or been seriously harmed, to identify learning that can strengthen the safeguarding system.

Our role is to understand both what happened and why. By examining the circumstances behind complex incidents, we uncover patterns, highlight good practice, and pinpoint where local and national improvements are needed.

We bring together expertise from social care, policing, health, education and the voluntary sector to provide a multi-agency view. Working with safeguarding partners and wider stakeholders ensures our findings reflect real experience and lead to practical change.

We publish national reviews, set expectations for local child safeguarding reviews, develop our own practice resources, share high‑quality materials produced by others, and offer support and guidance to safeguarding partnerships on any aspect of safeguarding reviews. Our aim is simple: to make sure lessons are learned, understood and acted on so that children receive the protection, care and support they need.